Archive for November, 2009

The long time journslist of the Combat sports, Eddie Goldman talked with Roxanne Modafferi on his podcast, which has the most longest history among Internet radio ” nhbnews“. They both are talking to each others about not only her last fight against Marloes Coenen, but also a lot of topics like the differences of coultures, Having a job and fighting as a pro-fighter at the same time, HOW TO COOK TURKEY(wtf? lol) in very relaxed mood.

Seems he liked the nick name a fan of Roxy had posted on her myspace blog b4 ” Happy Warrior”.

Thats it, This is why we watch female divisions MMA. Those fighters fight for Big money or getting spotlight on TV, Movies?

No, we watch female division coz the fighters are happy to fight in this sport, They shows skills which they have learned, Most of them like to challenge themselves and to fight tougher opponents, Enjoying everything around the competition like training, making wight, trevaling. They know each others and respect each others coz they know how this sport is tough.

That is the ” Pure Athletism” ppl always wants to watchin any kind of sports, Don`t you think?

nhbnews is always informative and educational for various kinds of the Combat sport and it`s relative topics including MMA, Boxing, Wrestling with Eddie Goldman`s deep and inteligent view. RNC Radio is a fun show with 2 hosts Joe and Ted who have respects to the fighters and the sport. RNC also has ” Tara LaRosa” as co-host .

“Yeah, I’m really happy because in that fight I made her tap and she congratulated me in the cage but then all of sudden we had to continue fighting because the referee said it was just after the bell went. So it was a little bit controversial decision. So I’m happy I can settle the score now.”

That is the way of Roxanne Modafferi. She took days off from job, she works in a high classed Language school as a English teacher in Japan. It means She mostly looses her money for each fights. Do you think she cares about it?

Marloes Coenen is the one of real innovator of female division. has been fighting since the female division still didnt exist. Sha was introduced as a cute but skillful SHOOTO girl b4 her debut in Japan . i still remember the magazine which has reported she had fought at ama SHOOTO even though she already had enough skill to fight at pro bouts. Also remember a TV program at the midnight had aired her training session in her Dojyo.

Marloes was still a teenager at that time and called ” Kuu nen chan” in Japanese. Her moves were so quick and skillful. i was really impressed at that time. Maybe there are still some of those Japanese other than me are left who got shocked to have seen Coenen.

You can read a brief background of this Roxanne Modafferi vs. Marloes Coenen II at here and here . I don’t predict this rematch but here are several points of “What to watch” in this fight.

First of all, advantages and disadvantages.

a)weight

Roxy is originally a 135er.Fighting at 145 is oversize for her. At the same time, she is good at fighting bigger opponents. She proved it at vs. Coenen I in 2007. Although its still a risky fight for a person who walks around 130 lbs. On the other hand Marloes Coenen must be walking around at 150-155 lbs. Fighting at 145 looks natural for current MMA. But remember that she has been fighting mostly in Japan which prefers open weight. Roxy doesn’t need to worry about making weight for 145, Coenen has to take that stressful process of dehydrade-rehydrade to fight under MMA unified rules in the north America. Still Coenen will have the advantage of weight during the fight.

b)The influence of the mental condition of the location

Roxy is an American, she has fought in her country a lot of times. Chicago is not her home town but the USA is her home country. Its is the first time to fight in the States for legendary female MMA star in Japan “Marloes Coenen”. (Actualy she fought in the Abu Dhabi * side note from Roxy) She made weight for replacement on last Aug 15. but didn`t need to fight at that time. Most of things must be the first time for Coenen. Roxy has big advantage in this meeting with her old coach kirik who will corner her as usual, and maybe her friend/rival Tara LaRosa.

c)Short notice of the fight and Changing of the opponent

Roxy got very short notice for this fight like only 1 week b4 the fight day, even if she is training for potential fight everyday. Coenen was scheduled to fight Cyborg at first, then Toughill. Both got pulled as her opponents and now the replacement is lighter weight but totally different type fighter than original strikers. Coenen also must have difficultiesmaking a new game plan even though she has been willing to avenge her loss against Roxy in 2007.

Coenen is taller and bigger than Roxy, has a lot of advantages of reach on the feet. On Boxing/Kickboxing demention of MMA, Roxy has to avoid the range that Coenen can throw power strikes. Roxy needs to take Coenen to grappling game first. But still Coenen has a mealy weapon, vicious knee striking from MuayThai clinch. Roxy and her corner men Kenji Osawa and K-taro Nakamura made good game plan for that at K-Grace. Underhooking Coenen`s arms,pushing Coenen`s chest with fore head. It`s an old and familiar move for Japanese, especially in Sumo wrestling. I believe you can see same move in any kind of wrestling like Greco Roman, Free Style, American Folk Style, Mongolian wrestling or Korean Wrestling. And IT WORKS. Roxy also used the cage to kill the power of Coenen.

“waki o sashi te atama o tsukeru”

ワキをさして頭をつける

We have to watch carefully about the “range” on the feet. Roxy has been training striking. Not only thinking about rematch against Coenen , but also concerned about Tara LaRosa,Shayna Baszler or the most complete all-rounde female fighter “Amanda Buckner“, there are new comers like Sarah Kaufman who have heavy hands and crazy cardio to keep throwing punch from quick steps and Katlin Young who has a deadly kick which can finish the fight in a moment at the 135 class. The striking game will be different from Roxy vs. Coenen I in 2007. But still keys on the feet will be

“range” and “clinch”.

b)on the ground=Grappling with Ground and Pound

Overall, the most notable thing about MMA female division is, its` ground fight. It is said that females are flexible and joints are kinda loose. Looseness of joints does not mean “tough joints”, but its true this factor makes the fights interesting and exciting. We often see unbelievable submission attempts and escaping at female division. You gotta remember that Roxy and Coenen are both skilful grapplers. It means that we can not blink once they go to the ground.

Most of the top female MMA fighters are good at guard games. Closed guard is not defensive in the female division, especially at top level fighters` bouts. A Typical fighter of this must be “Queen of Spades” Shayna Baszler. Her guard position is the most dangerous trap among all of MMA fighters` aside from Miuguel Torres`s one. Even Roxy got trapped at bodogFIGHT. Keeping the top position doesn’t always mean she is controlling the fight. Most top female fighters can control opponents and attack from bottom position using their flexibility. Roxy and Coenen are not an exception, or should i say “They are typical dangerous grapplers when they are at the bottom position” ?

Roxy is basically a jujitsu-based fighter, good at positioning.Ground and Pound which she has been training a lot for a while will work with it. Coenen`s fight style on the ground is a bit aggressive, trying to hit sub from any position. It often reminds us of old “Catch wrestling” or SAMBO. I have watched Coenen focusing on GnP in a video on youtube at her fight in 2008.

“Guard position” and “GnP” will be the keys on the ground.

Anyways, This rematch will be a good showcase of female division. I HOPE CBS and Strikeforce will air this fight on Nov. 7th (8th for us Japanese).

LUP U ZACK !!! Miss Modafferi who is a professional English teacher fixed my EngRish ! How long have you been chatting over the net with me? ALMOST 10 YEARS now. And you still don`t learn Japanese ! NOT FAIR !!!

But as you have mentioned Roxy also found my tendency of missing plural(?) and articles. I know it`s a general problem of Japanese English learners.